Leffler: Sister will testify against brother in home invasion trial

A woman convicted of driving two accomplices to a home invasion crime scene is expected to testify against her brother.

Treva M. Campbell, 30, of 38 Newton St., appeared in Huron County Common Pleas Court for a sentencing hearing Thursday morning. Her tampering with evidence conviction is for driving her boyfriend, Larry Thornsberry, 36, and her brother, Jeremy M. Sax, 34, to the site of the March 1 home invasion in Fitchville Township.

Judge Jim Conway, during the short hearing, said attorneys had requested more time due to plea negotiations.

"The court has no objection to a brief continuance," he said and set Campbell's sentencing date for Aug. 7.

When asked later to clarify the judge's comments, Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said Campbell is a state's witness and is supposed to testify against Sax if he goes to trial July 16. Sax is charged with one count each of robbery, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence.

"We hope to see how she testifies against her brother. This will put more pressure on her," Leffler said.

The prosecutor mentioned the possibility of recommending a lighter sentence for Campbell, who faces nine months to three years in prison.

The victim, during a March 12 preliminary hearing in Norwalk Municipal Court, accused Sax of repeatedly hitting him with a black handgun while Thornsberry grabbed him from behind in a choke hold. The victim testified the assault ended "after about 10 to 15 minutes."

"I went to Fisher-Titus (Medical Center) and had staples put in my head," the man said.

After the assault, Campbell drove her accomplices away from the scene and stopped the vehicle so Sax could throw out the weapon, Leffler said. On March 8, a Huron County Sheriff's Office search team found an airsoft pistol in water under a Jennings Road bridge adjacent to the Fitchville Conservation Club.

Investigators determined the situation began to develop when Sax's girlfriend -- a 23-year-old New London woman -- went to her ex-boyfriend's home to retrieve her laptop computer. Charges against her were dismissed later.

Campbell's defense attorney, Tom Freeman, has denied his client entered the house, but prosecutors said witnesses placed the defendant at the scene and Campbell, who had been waiting in the car, decided to go inside the victim's house to see what was taking so long.

In late April, Campbell pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. As part of a plea deal, the state dismissed one count of burglary.

Thornsberry, of U.S. 250, Lot 49, will be sentenced Tuesday for burglary and attempted tampering with evidence.

Leffler had offered her brother, Sax, a five-year prison term as part of a proposed plea deal and gave him two weeks to accept it.